The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Vaughan stays hot as Rovers sink Loons
Lewis Vaughan scored for the seventh match running as Raith Rovers came from behind to defeat 10-man Forfar at Stark’s Park on Saturday.
The striker’s first half equaliser cancelled out Mark Millar’s free-kick opener, while late goals from Liam Buchanan and Greig Spence sealed a League One victory for Rovers after Forfar had Jamie Bain sent off for a last-man foul.
Loons gaffer Gary Bollan was less than pleased with referee Alan Newlands’ performance but for 21-year-old Vaughan, the victory capped another fine individual display.
“We had a lot of possession and just kept grinding them down and eventually it came,” he said.
“I’m on a good run just now, I’m enjoying games and I can’t wait for next Saturday already.
“The most important thing is the win but that’s nine goals in eight games for me now. I don’t know what it is I’m doing but I just need to keep it going.”
Raith are targeting the title this season and Vaughan reckons the current team would even be a force to be reckoned with in the division above.
“It has to be promotion – that’s the main aim,” he said.
“The club’s too big to be in this league, and with the quality in the team, if we were in the Championship we’d be challenging at the top end as well.”
For Bollan, the defeat was a sore one to take, particularly as his 10 men survived Raith’s second-half bombardment until the 84th minute.
“Coming to Raith you need a bit of luck – but we didn’t get any,” he said.
“The players claimed that Jamie Bain got a toe on the ball with his sending off.
“We need to see it on the video again, but I feel aggrieved that we had a similar one in the second half with Jim Lister going through on goal. He’s tugged, but we don’t get anything.
“Coming to a place like Stark’s Park you’re looking for referee’s to get decisions right. Whether he did, I’m not so sure.
“But I thought the players, after going down to 10 men, were tremendous. The effort, application and shape they kept frustrated Raith and we nearly came away with a draw.”
Raith were forced to hand teenage goalkeeper Rory Brian his first senior start due to an injury to Aaron Lennox and the youngster was busy in the early stages making fine stops from Millar and Dylan Easton.
However, Brian was powerless to prevent Forfar taking the lead in the 17th minute as Iain Davidson fouled David Cox on the edge of the area, and Millar crashed home the free-kick.
Raith drew level on the halfhour mark thanks to individual brilliance from Vaughan as he collected the ball 50 yards from goal before driving at the defence and firing a low left foot effort beyond Marc McCallum from the edge of the box.
Bain then received his marching orders seven minutes before the break when he lunged into a challenge on Buchanan as the striker bore down on goal.
Raith set up camp in the Forfar half for the remainder of the game but found it difficult to break down a well-organised away defence, with keeper McCallum also in good form.
The 10 men held on until the 84th minute when Vaughan sent a tempting cross into the box where Buchanan’s clever touch took it past McCallum into the far corner of the net.
Three minutes later Raith were home and dry as Simon Mensing’s weak header back to his goalkeeper was pounced on by Spence who poked the ball into the net for 3-1.
Raith boss Smith said he always felt confident that the goal would come.
He said: “For as much as Forfar made it very difficult, and that’s credit to them, I had confidence in the team that we would get that goal.”